A criminal who taunted police via Facebook while on the run from prison in Britain has been recaptured, four months after his break-out, police said on Wednesday.
Craig “Lazie” Lynch, 28, became a cult figure thanks to his defiant status updates on the Internet social networking site.
Dubbed the “Facebook fugitive” by media, Lynch — whose profile picture showed him raising his middle finger to the camera — notched up tens of thousands of “friends” from around the world.
There was also a separate Facebook page, “Where is Craig ‘Lazie’ Lynch?”, calling for information which could lead to his capture.
Lynch was serving a seven-year term for aggravated burglary when he escaped prison in Suffolk, eastern England, in September.
But he could now have his spell behind bars extended after being charged with escaping from lawful custody.
Dozens of Facebook users expressed glee at his recapture on the “Where is Craig ‘Lazie’ Lynch?” page.
“I know where he is… locked up now!” wrote one, while another added: “Ha ha ha, he not laughing now is he at the police.”
Lynch was recaptured in the county of Kent, southeast of London, on Tuesday night.
In court Wednesday, he was remanded in custody ahead of another appearance at high-security Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London on January 20.
A spokesman for London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed Lynch had been recaptured but could not say whether information posted on Facebook had helped officers locate him. — AFP